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Abstract:

A loading device includes a number of stacked loading plates and a fixing
assembly. Each loading plate is used for loading a number of elements.
The fixing assembly fixes the loading plates together. Each loading plate
includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first
surface. A number of spacer blocks protrude from the first surface,
forming an interval between two adjacent loading plates. Each loading
plate defines a number of through holes passing through the first surface
and the second surface. A number of blocks are positioned on the second
surface. Each through hole is surrounded by at least three blocks. Each
of the at least three blocks has an arc surface facing a corresponding
through hole. The arc surfaces of the at least three blocks cooperatively
define a groove communicating with the corresponding through hole.

Claims:

1. A loading device for loading elements, comprising: at least two
loading plates configured for loading a plurality of elements, the at
least two loading plates being stacked one by one, each loading plate
defining a plurality of through holes and comprising: a first surface; a
plurality of spacer blocks positioned on the first surface to form an
interval between two adjacent loading plates; a second surface opposite
to the first surface; and a plurality of blocks positioned on the second
surface, wherein the through holes pass through the first and second
surfaces, each through hole is surrounded by at least three blocks, each
of the at least three blocks has an arc surface facing a corresponding
through hole, the arc surfaces of the at least three blocks cooperatively
define a groove communicating with the corresponding through hole; and a
fixing assembly fixing the at least two loading plates together.

2. The loading device of claim 1, wherein each of the through holes
comprises a first hole and a second hole coaxial with the first hole, the
first hole is adjacent to the first surface, the second hole is adjacent
to the second surface, a diameter of the first hole is larger than that
of the second hole, each groove of one loading plate and a corresponding
first hole of another adjacent loading plate are configured to
cooperatively receive one of the elements, each groove is circular
shaped, and a diameter of each first hole is less than that of each
groove.

3. The loading device of claim 1, wherein each loading plate is
substantially square-shaped, each two spacer blocks are positioned on one
side of each second surface, and each two spacer blocks on two opposite
sides are aligned with each other.

4. The loading device of claim 1, wherein the through holes are arranged
in an array, and two adjacent through holes are spaced from each other.

5. The loading device of claim 1, wherein the blocks are arranged in an
array, and two adjacent blocks are spaced from each other.

6. The loading device of claim 1, wherein the fixing assembly comprises
two rubber bands, the rubber bands bind the at least two loading plates
together.

7. The loading device of claim 1, wherein each loading plate is
substantially square-shaped, the blocks comprises a plurality of middle
blocks, a plurality of side blocks, and a plurality of corner blocks, the
side blocks are arranged adjacent to four sides of each second surface,
the corner blocks are arranged in four corners of each second surface,
the middle blocks are arranged in an array surrounded by the side blocks
and the corner blocks.

8. The loading device of claim 7, wherein each middle block is
substantially square-shaped, a cross-sectional area of each side block is
half of that of each middle block, a cross-sectional area of each corner
block is quarter of that of each middle block.

9. The loading device of claim 7, wherein a cross-sectional area of each
side block and a cross-sectional area of each corner block are the same
as that of each middle block.

10. The loading device of claim 1, wherein each second surface comprises
a plurality of sides, each side defines a notch receiving corresponding
spacer blocks of adjacent loading plate.

11. The loading device of claim 1, wherein each two adjacent blocks
cooperatively a channel, two adjacent grooves are communicated through a
corresponding channel.

12. The loading device of claim 1, wherein each through hole is
surrounded by four blocks.

Description:

[0004] Optical elements (e.g. lenses, barrels) need to be washed, dried,
and then assembled to form image capturing devices. However, the elements
are received in metallic nets during the washing processing, in trays
during the drying processing, and then are received in plastic bags to be
transported to assembly machines. The elements further need to be
received in assembly plates during the assembling process. In other
words, the elements need to be transferred to different loading devices
during different steps, which will waste a lot of time and reduce the
production efficiency.

[0005] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a loading device that can
overcome the above-mentioned limitations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Many aspects of the embodiments should be better understood with
reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are
not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon
clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover,
in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts
throughout the several views.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a loading device,
according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a cutaway perspective view of two loading plates of the
loading device of FIG. 1.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged view of circled area III of the
loading device of FIG. 2.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a cutaway perspective view of a loading plate of the
loading device of FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a loading plate of the
loading device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a loading device 100 used for loading
elements 200 (e.g. barrels, lenses), according to an embodiment, includes
a number of loading plates 10 and a fixing assembly 50. The fixing
assembly 50 is used for fixing the loading plates 10 together. In this
embodiment, the fixing assembly 50 is two rubber bands 51.

[0013] Also referring to FIGS. 4&5, each of the loading plates 10 is made
of heat-resisting material. Each loading plate 10 is substantially
square-shaped, and includes a first surface 11 and a second surface 16
opposite to the first surface 11. The first surface 11 includes four
sides 110. Vertically protruding from each side 110 of the first surface
11 are two spacer blocks 112 forming an interval 113 (see FIG. 2) between
the two adjacent loading plates 10. The two spacer blocks 112 of two
opposite sides 110 are aligned respectively, and thus each of the two
rubber bands 51 can be stopped by two aligned spacer blocks 112 of two
opposite sides 110 (see FIG. 1). The number of the spacer blocks 112 is
not limited to this embodiment.

[0014] Each loading plate 10 defines a number of through holes 13 passing
through the first surface 11 and the second surface 16. The through holes
13 are disposed in array, and two adjacent through holes 13 are spaced
from each other. In other embodiments, the through holes 13 also can be
disposed in a honeycomb structure.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 3, each through hole 13 includes a first hole 131
and a second hole 132 coaxial with the first hole 131. The first hole 131
is adjacent to the first surface 11. The second hole 132 is adjacent to
the second surface 16. The diameter of the first hole 131 is larger than
that of the second hole 132, a stepped surface 133 is formed at the joint
portion between the first hole 131 and the second hole 132. The joint
portion of the first hole 131 and the first surface 11 form an inclined
surface 134 so the elements 200 can easily enter the first hole 131.

[0016] A number of blocks 160 are protruding from the second surface 16
around the second holes 13. The blocks 160 are arranged in array, and two
adjacent blocks 160 are spaced to form a channel 166. Each second hole
132 is surrounded by four blocks 160. A surface of each block 160 facing
the second hole 132 defines an arc surface 161. The arc surfaces 161 of
the blocks 160 around a corresponding second hole 132 to cooperatively
define a groove 163. Each groove 163 is circular shaped, a diameter of
each first hole 131 is less than that of each groove 163. The
corresponding second hole 132 is defined at the center of the groove 163.
Two adjacent grooves 163 communicate via the channel 166. Referring to
FIG. 3, each groove 163 and the corresponding first hole 131 of the
loading plate 10 cooperatively define a receiving space (not labeled) to
receive the element 200, preventing the elements 200 from flying away
from the loading device 10. Along the direction perpendicular to the
second surface 16, the receiving space communicates with the second holes
132 of two adjacent loading plates 10. Along the direction parallel to
the second surface 16, the receiving space communicates with the interval
113 of the two adjacent loading plates 10. Each side of the second
surface 16 defines a notch 165 to receive the corresponding spacer blocks
112 of the adjacent loading plate 10, making sure that the corresponding
through holes 13 of the loading plates 10 are coaxial with each other
respectively.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 5, the blocks 160 of each loading plate 10
include a number of middle blocks 167, a number of side blocks 168, and
four corner blocks 169. The side blocks 168 are arranged adjacent to the
four sides of the second surface 16. The corner blocks 169 are disposed
in the four corners of the second surface 16. The middle blocks 167 are
arranged in array in the area of the second surface 16 surrounded by the
side blocks 168 and the corner blocks 169. Each middle block 167 is
substantially square-shaped. In this embodiment, a cross-sectional area
of each side block 168 is half of that of each middle block 167. a
cross-sectional area of each corner block 169 is quarter of that of each
middle block 167. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional area of each
side block 168 and each corner block 169 also can be the same as that of
the middle block 167.

[0018] In use, the elements 200 are received in the grooves 163 of the
second surface 16, and then the loading plates 10 are stacked one by one
to make the first hole 131 of the adjacent loading plate 10 cover the
elements 200. The loading plate 10 on the top serves as a cover and does
not receive the elements 200. The spacer blocks 112 are received in the
notches 165 to align the corresponding through holes 13 of the loading
plates 10. The two rubber bands 51 sleeve on the loading plates 10 to fix
the loading plates 10 together. The loading device 100 loaded with the
elements 200 is put into a cleaning machine (not shown). An amount of
cleaning fluid in the cleaning machine is shook, along the direction
perpendicular to the second surface 16. The cleaning fluid reaches the
elements 200 through the intervals 113 of two adjacent loading plates 10,
along the direction parallel to the second surface 16. The cleaning fluid
reaches the elements 200 through the second holes 132, and thus the
element 200 can be cleaned from multi-angles. Then, the loading device
100 and the elements 200 are taken from the cleaning device, and are put
into a drying machine. The two rubber bands 51 are removed. After the
elements 200 are dried, the elements 200 loaded on each loading plate 10
are put into an assembly machine (not shown) in turn.

[0019] In other embodiments, the shape of the first hole 131 and the
second hole 132 also can be other shapes, e.g. square, or rhombus. The
shape of the groove 163 also can be other shapes, e.g. square, or
rhombus.

[0020] In other embodiments, the diameter of the first hole 131 is equal
to that of the second hole 132.

[0021] In other embodiments, the number of the blocks 160 surrounding a
second hole 132 can also be three, or more than four.

[0022] In other embodiments, the diameter of the groove 163 can also be
unequal to that of the first hole 131, but the diameter of the second
hole 132 must less than that of the groove 163.

[0023] In other embodiments, the second hole 132 also can be located off
the center of the groove 163.

[0024] It will be understood that the above particular embodiments are
shown and described by way of illustration only. The principles and the
features of the present disclosure may be employed in various and
numerous embodiments thereof without departing from the scope of the
disclosure as claimed. The above-described embodiments illustrate the
scope of the disclosure but do not restrict the scope of the disclosure.